Romania Sees Increase in Industrial Slaughter and Dairy Production in 2024

According to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS), 2024 saw an upward trend in the slaughter of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and poultry in industrial units (slaughterhouses), compared to 2023.

Additionally, the amount of milk collected from farms and collection centers by industrial dairy processors increased in 2024 compared to the previous year.

Animal and Poultry Slaughter in Industrial Units

In 2024, the number of cattle slaughtered in industrial units rose by 10.2% compared to 2023, while pig slaughter increased by 7.9%.

Beef production grew by 12.2%, and pork production rose by 9.2%. The number of sheep and goats slaughtered increased significantly, up by 57.3%, with corresponding meat production up by 62.1%.

Poultry slaughter increased by 8.3% year-on-year, while poultry meat production rose by 8.7%.

Cattle slaughter was concentrated mainly in the North-East (48.8%) and North-West (12.7%) regions. Pig slaughter was most prevalent in the West (37.6%) and South-Muntenia (23.3%) regions. The highest shares of sheep and goat slaughter were recorded in the West (40.3%) and South-Muntenia (15.3%).

In 2024, poultry slaughter was concentrated in the North-East (27.2%), South-East (20.3%), South-West Oltenia (18.6%), and Centre (17.2%) regions.

Milk and Dairy Products from Industrial Units

In 2024, the quantity of raw cow's milk collected by processors from farms and collection centers increased by 44,326 tonnes (+3.6%) compared to the previous year.

The volume of imported raw milk also rose, up by 46,233 tonnes (+39.8%) year-on-year.

The most significant production increase was seen in processed cheese (melted cheese), which rose by 2,562 tonnes (+31.5%), followed by butter with a 978-tonne increase (+8.9%), and fermented milk products (yogurt, drinking yogurt, and similar items), which rose by 15,116 tonnes (+7.4%).

Cheese production (including whey cheese) increased by 7,520 tonnes (+7.3%), sour cream by 4,226 tonnes (+6.4%), and drinking milk by 18,519 tonnes (+5.2%).

Cheese made from cow’s milk—which accounts for 89.8% of total cheese production—rose by 4,386 tonnes (+4.7%). In contrast, milk powder production fell by 131 tonnes (-6.1%) compared to 2023.

The highest volumes of raw cow’s milk were collected in the Centre (42.0%), North-West (17.7%), and North-East (17.2%) regions.

Drinking milk production was concentrated in the Centre (57.6%) and North-West (21.3%).

The Centre, Bucharest-Ilfov, and North-West regions accounted for more than 77.0% of the production of fresh dairy products (sour cream and fermented milk).

The largest quantities of butter were produced in the Centre (44.5%), West (34.6%), and North-West (13.7%) regions. Cheese (including whey cheese) was primarily produced in the Centre (40.5%) and North-East (23.2%).